Cytochrome P-450 and the metabolism of vinyl chloride

The oxidation of vinyl chloride to non-volatile products is dependent on NADPH and microsomal enzymes. The addition of vinyl chloride to microsomes causes a Type 1 spectra shift, similar to that seen for phenobarbital [11[ which indicates the direct involvement of a cytochrome P-450 species; this difference spectrum is characteristic of substrate binding to this type of enzyme. A glutathione conjugate is probably formed, perhaps via a reactive intermediate.